Sky to launch on digital terrestrial

Sky plans to launch a four-channel subscription TV service on digital terrestrial TV this summer.
Announced – coincidentally? – on the same day as Virgin Media’s big launch, the service will provide some of Sky’s most popular sports, entertainment and movies through your aerial.
Sky said the line-up will include live Barclays Premiership matches and other sporting events, with the full channel roster and pricing to be revealed in the Spring.

It will use the Freeview capacity currently occupied by Sky Three, Sky News and Sky Sports News, which will cease to be available free-to-air ahead of the pay-TV launch.
Sky will use the latest MPEG-4 compression technology to broadcast four 24-hour channels, with more expected to arrive as the technology improves. Subcribers will require new set-top boxes.
Ofcom will have to approve the licenses for new service, since it changes Freeview channels into pay-channels.